Home & Garden

ATLANTA -- To help customers welcome springtime with bright blooms, pretty perennials and fresh fruits and veggies, the experts at Pike Nurseries are hosting a variety of free gardening classes all month long.

With on-hand advice from planting professionals, guests of all gardening levels can transition their stark winter landscapes into cheerful crops of spring blossoms galore.

Growing Great Tomatoes ClassWednesday, April 8 at 1 p.m.at all Pike Nurseries store locationsA juicy, vine-ripened tomato adds the perfect burst of flavor to spring and summer recipes! Better yet, homegrown tomatoes are a safe, economical food source and taste better than store-bought edibles. Customers can take their pick from two offered classes to learn more about these delicious, nutrient-packed plants. With fresh advice from Pike Nurseries, these ruby-red favorites will be ripe for the picking!

ATLANTA -- Not only do houseplants bring in much needed color during the bare winter months, but they also play an important health role by improving air quality! Research has revealed that certain common houseplants can actually create a cleaner environment by releasing oxygen and removing contaminants – like formaldehyde, benzene and ammonia – from a room’s air efficiently.

To help customers create a cleaner, greener and healthier home, Pike Nurseries is hosting a FREE “Houseplants for a Healthy 2015” customer class at all garden center locations onSaturday, Jan. 24 at 9 a.m.

During the informational seminar, guests will learn about houseplant health benefits, popular plant options and proper care guidelines. With expert tips from Pike Nurseries, guests can keep their homes healthy and “green” all year-round!

ATLANTA -- With winter temperatures quickly dropping, now is the best time to welcome winged wildlife with food, shelter and water. Feathered friends will appreciate a safe refuge from the cold, and bird lovers will enjoy a colorful flurry of activity right at their doorstep!

To help customers ready their yards for winter birds, Pike Nurseries is hosting a special birding sale this Saturday, Jan. 17. With 20% off bird houses, bird feeders, bird seed and accessories, avid and first-time enthusiasts alike can stock up on all the essentials to attract a variety of birds straight to their yard.

All Pike Nurseries locations will also host a free birding basics class on Jan. 17 at 9 a.m. During the class, guests will learn the essentials needed to attract birds, what type of bird food is best for certain species and how to create an inviting habitat for them during the crucial winter months.

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- When the weather report calls for freezing temperatures overnight, you do not want to be rushing outside in the dark to cover cold-sensitive plants.

According to University of Georgia experts, protect plants in containers either by placing them inside a protective structure (house, garage, greenhouse or shed) or by placing a protective covering over them.

“People put a lot of time and expense in caring for their plants,” states Menia Chester, Director of Fulton County Cooperative Extension. “It is important for them to know how to protect their investments to nurture them for growth when the weather is cold.”

Container plants are especially susceptible to cold temperatures; their roots are more exposed because they are above ground. Plants with roots that are damaged by cold temperatures may not show immediate signs of damage; these plants will show signs of stress when temperatures rise and the demand for water from the roots are greater.

ATLANTA -- Just as the New Year is getting under way, now is the perfect time to tidy up the garden and rid those winter weed woes! A well-maintained garden not only adds curb appeal to a home, but it also protects the landscape against pests and keeps it healthy all year-long.